BIS recommends not certifying biodegradable plastics in India due to lack of evidence. Claims of 100% biodegradability are misleading

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has advised the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) against certifying biodegradable plastics due to the lack of conclusive evidence regarding their biodegradability. BIS Chairman, Pramod Kumar Tiwari, stated that ongoing research is being conducted in India and abroad to determine whether plastic is entirely biodegradable, making it difficult to confirm whether claimed biodegradable plastics are wholly biodegradable. Tiwari also warned that any claims of complete biodegradability would be considered misleading advertising until there is sufficient evidence. According to Tiwari, the Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering and Technology (CIPET) has already conducted research on this aspect in India. But, no final conclusion claiming plastic materials are 100 percent biodegradable has been proved yet. BIS has developed standards for various industries, including renewable energy, construction, waste disposal, and agriculture, and is currently framing standards for carbon trading.   PolyMart does not provide any assurances or guarantees regarding the reliability, accuracy, completeness, or quality of the information available on its website, app, or through any of its services. Therefore, the company is not responsible for any errors, omissions, loss, or damage that may result from the use of the website or app. It is advisable for users to exercise caution and independently verify any information obtained from these sources before relying on it for any purpose